Good morning Ed1948 & all; Is that your birth year, 1948? If it is I got only 2 years on ya. I will be posting my Bronze Brick for sale soon, you might want to take a look. Good luck finding that needle in a hay stack, Ol'e Bob.
Try To Make Financial Sense Re: Car Purchase
- Thread starter ed1948
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If you want a 442, etc. hold out and get a 442. The nickles and dimes add up too. There are bargains out there. It sounds like you are going to gut and rebuild anyway so a little more elbow grease will get you whatever you want
Don't look at my first post, you'll cry a little.
Don't look at my first post, you'll cry a little.
I would say if you have the funds to buy a mint low mileage car that you want then that is the route I would go and don't compromise on the options you truly want.
Most of us don't have money to buy the car we actually want and end up having to "settle" for something we know is going to need bodywork, paint, rust repair, drivetrain, interior work, etc. and years later we might end up having the car we wanted in the beginning but many times life gets in the way during this process and you end up with an unfinished project car that isn't worth much.
I personally wouldn't buy a Gbody as an investment, I just love the body style and that is why I build them and I want to drive and enjoy them and not have to think about how much money that new stone chip just cost me off my "investment"
Most of us don't have money to buy the car we actually want and end up having to "settle" for something we know is going to need bodywork, paint, rust repair, drivetrain, interior work, etc. and years later we might end up having the car we wanted in the beginning but many times life gets in the way during this process and you end up with an unfinished project car that isn't worth much.
I personally wouldn't buy a Gbody as an investment, I just love the body style and that is why I build them and I want to drive and enjoy them and not have to think about how much money that new stone chip just cost me off my "investment"
My car is scenario #1. Bought 1 owner v6 Monte(exactly like my first car when I was 18 in 1998). Toss out v6, Brand new 350, transmission professionally rebuilt by the best, fully custom exhaust, few suspension and other upgrades, 15" rims, keep overall stock look. I have $13,000 invested including purchase price(and this was in 2011). The car runs and drives amazing. With a brand new engine and transmission it's nearly as reliable as my wifes 2015. This car means the world to me but what could I get if I sold it? $7,500 on my best day, If I came across that right guy just like me who had the same exact car as a teenager but would like to re-live those days but with a V8 and sweet exhaust. Otherwise the sale process would be a nightmare of lowballers assuming I'm getting divorced or some other life calamity forcing me to sell. They wouldn't even be interested in the car as much as they would be interested in beating me down and seeing me die inside a little.
Scenario #2 would be better financially but there are 2 problems.
Problem 1: You're sort of beholden to the original car. You get a Mint SS with T-tops for example and you really can't tinker with it. If you ruin the originality you ruin the cars value. So you're stuck with a 305 when a sweet engine swap is just to easy to execute in that car. For many that might be fine if your just boulevard cruising and you simply love the nostalgia of an all original 80's car.
Problem 2: Every time I'm on ebay or CL I see wildly varrying prices for Monte SS's. There are always many to choose from and you'll always see a low mile, great condition all original SS which is properly documented and (according to the owner) valued at 16k. Then some old timer who doesn't have time to maintain his anymore is basically giving away his 1 owner, dealer serviced and always garaged one which is a ball hair away from being as nice as the last one you saw but this one is 8 grand. Oh but it needs new weather stripping for the T-tops and a radio fuse(big deal right?). Point being many of these have been garaged and since they aren't 69 Chevelle's what it's worth is
Scenario #2 would be better financially but there are 2 problems.
Problem 1: You're sort of beholden to the original car. You get a Mint SS with T-tops for example and you really can't tinker with it. If you ruin the originality you ruin the cars value. So you're stuck with a 305 when a sweet engine swap is just to easy to execute in that car. For many that might be fine if your just boulevard cruising and you simply love the nostalgia of an all original 80's car.
Problem 2: Every time I'm on ebay or CL I see wildly varrying prices for Monte SS's. There are always many to choose from and you'll always see a low mile, great condition all original SS which is properly documented and (according to the owner) valued at 16k. Then some old timer who doesn't have time to maintain his anymore is basically giving away his 1 owner, dealer serviced and always garaged one which is a ball hair away from being as nice as the last one you saw but this one is 8 grand. Oh but it needs new weather stripping for the T-tops and a radio fuse(big deal right?). Point being many of these have been garaged and since they aren't 69 Chevelle's what it's worth is
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Decide what car you want, and start saving the money. Expect zero return on your investment. Every part you put on the car? Mark it down 60%. You will likely make more money separating the parts again than as a whole car, in the end.
Why would you want to continue under this dismal prognosis? Because it will be fun! In the end, you'll have experience and a car. What do you end up with after a steak dinner? Experience and.
Why would you want to continue under this dismal prognosis? Because it will be fun! In the end, you'll have experience and a car. What do you end up with after a steak dinner? Experience and.
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I like that Grand Prix 2+2 that Kevin found on Kijiji. It looks like a car you can maintain, drive, and enjoy. But again, it's your choice. It looks like a good car for the money.
I guess you'd still have to factor in transporting it.
I guess you'd still have to factor in transporting it.
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